Are working moms stretched too thin?

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2004
Are working moms stretched too thin?
1078
Tue, 06-13-2006 - 2:45pm

Do you think a mom who works full-time and has kids is stretched too thin?

I was working full-time up till November of 2005. Then I decided that it was all too much. I was exhausted and found that when I did get to spend time with my little guy (he is now 2 1/2) I was very impatient with him because I was soo tired. Also the stress of work often overflowed into my personal life (both with ds and dh).

Now that I have been home for over 6 months, I am finally starting to be more patient and am enjoying my son instead of rushing him along. If he want to take 20 minutes to get into the car - ok, no problem.

So - do you think that trying to juggle work, kids, marriage and all the stresses that come with those things is too much? (I did)

Maybe when my son is older - then I will go back to work and it might be easier because he will be more self-sufficient? Who knows? All I know is that for now, I am enjoying being a SAHM and am glad for the time I get to devote to my son and the lower stress levels (that I believe were very unhealthy for me).

josee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-04-2005
Thu, 06-22-2006 - 5:08pm
She was a SAHM until she worked. When she began working she didn't work out of the home. She worked in a store for 2 or 3 years - so then I would say her status completely changed.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-04-2005
Thu, 06-22-2006 - 5:13pm
Now you are getting into discipline. I will not spoil my child, but I will not place my needs before his/her needs. If I need to work so my child will eat and have the necessary things he/she needs, then I will. Otherwise, I'd rather give my children my time - time means more to them than money. And, I want to teach my kids that money doesn't make you truly happy. My parents taught me this and I will pass the same concept to my kids.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-04-2005
Thu, 06-22-2006 - 5:17pm

I would be hurt if I knew she could afford to stay home but chose to work instead.

Some of you have older kids but I really want to stress the importance of staying home with your kids when they are young instead of sending them to daycare. If your kids are in school, that changes things because you can be at work while they are in school and they won't feel the impact of your absence.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-04-2005
Thu, 06-22-2006 - 5:19pm
I would never put my husband before my kids. My kids are my flesh and blood. My hubby can up and leave at any point. But my child will always be my flesh and blood.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-04-2005
Thu, 06-22-2006 - 5:22pm
No, because your husband should also put the kids first. If you do this in unity, there would never be discord. For example, if you had a limited amount of food, wouldn't you feed your kids first and leave yourselves for last??
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-12-2005
Thu, 06-22-2006 - 5:22pm
Your flesh and blood will grow up and move out one day. The best gift you can give your kids is a strong marriage.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-04-2005
Thu, 06-22-2006 - 5:23pm
Ok, on that I can agree. The needs of the children should come first. Once you decide to have children, those children should become your priority - only second to God.
Avatar for myshkamouse
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 06-22-2006 - 5:24pm

I have a hard time taking seriously anyone who nicknames their child after a doughnut."

Oh come on, other opinions aside, I call my kids pumpkins, banannas, potatoe bugs, etc.

Aside from that, you want the focus to be on the kids, right? Well, if, according to you, the kids whose parents MUST work do not suffer any ill-effects from being in childcare, then why would you think that the children whose parents CHOOSE to work would suffer any ill-effects? After all, the experience for the CHILD is the same, regardless of whether or not the parent MUST or CHOOSES to work."

That my friend, is the argument I've never understood. I work as I *choose* to, DH stays home because he *chooses* to. If we both chose to work, why would that be detrimental vs if we *had* to work, or I absolutely had to work as say a single mom?

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-14-2006
Thu, 06-22-2006 - 5:25pm

"My hubby can up and leave at any point."

My children WILL leave me.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-04-2005
Thu, 06-22-2006 - 5:25pm
I don't see why we should place our needs before our kids' needs. Can you explain why you would want to do that??

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